Migrant caravan again on the move after leaving Mexico City

Migrants in a second caravan from Central America begin their trek to Santo Domingo Ingenio from Tapanetepec, Oaxaca state, Mexico on Wednesday. Photo by Luis Villalobos/EPA-EFE

Nov. 9 (UPI) -- A caravan of migrants from Central America is on the move and headed toward the United States once again, after voting to leave Mexico City Friday.

The decision to continue on foot was made late Thursday, shortly after President Donald Trump's administration announced new restrictions on those seeking asylum in the United States.

The migrants voted to leave the Mexican capital for Queretaro, Mexico, about 120 miles to the north, USA Today reported. Supporters say they're looking to walk the longer, but safer, route to Tijuana -- instead of a shorter trek across the Rio Grande into Texas.

Between 4,000 and 5,000 migrants remain in the caravan after organizers were unsuccessful in persuading United Nations officials to send buses for them.

As the group continued north, the U.S. Departments of Justice and Homeland Security posted a new joint rule Thursday to deny certain immigrants who attempt to cross the U.S. border.

"Consistent with our immigration laws, the president has the broad authority to suspend or restrict the entry of aliens into the United States if he determines it to be in the national interest to do so," officials said in a statement.

"Our asylum system is overwhelmed with too many meritless asylum claims from aliens who place a tremendous burden on our resources, preventing us from being able to expeditiously grant asylum to those who truly deserve it. Today, we are using the authority granted to us by Congress to bar aliens who violate a presidential suspension of entry or other restriction from asylum eligibility."

The new rule is expected to be challenged in federal court.

Trump has railed against the current U.S. asylum system for accepting large groups of migrants from Central America. While campaigning for Republican candidates ahead of the midterm elections, he referred to the caravan as an "invasion" that includes some criminals in the group.